RIO DE JANEIRO， August 16 (Xinhua) -- World Cup runners-up Serbia swept Russia 3-0 (25-9， 25-22， 25-21) in the Olympic women's volleyball tournament on Tuesday evening to enter an Olympic semi-final for the first time in history.

Tijana Boskovic had 15 kills and five aces to lead Serbia with 20 points with Milena Rasic and Brankica Mihajlovic adding 16 and 14 respectively.

Serbia converted on 42 of their 87 attacking attempts while Russia managed 29 kills in 77 tries. Serbia produced a total of 12 aces， compared to two for Russia.

Tatiana Kosheleva led Russia with 17 points.

Serbia will play the United States， 3-0 winners over Japan in the quarter-finals earlier on Tuesday， in Thursday's semi-finals.

Novak Djokovic celebrates after winning the Wimbledon men's singles title on July 12 in London. Photo: CFP

By contrast, Federer, the record 17-time major winner, has not won a Slam since Wimbledon three years ago.

World No.3 Andy Murray won the last of his two Grand Slam titles at the All England Club in 2013.

And Rafael Nadal, the 14-time major champion Nike Air VaporMax Baratas , is trapped in a vicious spiral of decline which has sent him spinning to his lowest ranking in a decade and close to slipping out of the world top 10.

By contrast, Djokovic has this year picked up a fifth Australian Open, a third Wimbledon and four Masters. His match record is a remarkable 48 wins against just three defeats.

He is also the model of consistency, making the semifinals in 19 of his last 20 Grand Slams.

"He's marching through history. I'm not sure where this ends for Novak."

Sunday's win leveled his career matchup with Federer at 20-20 and he has now won five of their last seven meetings at the Grand Slams.

Rivals off the pace

Federer will be 34 in August and the longer Sunday's final went on, the further off the pace he fell.

Djokovic is 19-8 to the good against fellow 28-year-old -Murray, winning their last eight meetings. Despite trailing -Rafael Nadal 23-21, Djokovic has won six of their last seven.

Of course, the French Open continues to elude him Nike Air Max TN Mujer Baratas , defeated in the final in three of the last four years including in June against an inspired Stan Wawrinka.

That was one of eight Grand Slam finals he has lost.

"There were some finals I should have won but then again, having said that, everything happens for a reason," said Djokovic.

"I try to learn from every experience, especially the ones that don't end up victorious for me. I'm going to keep going.

"I'm 28. I feel good. I don't feel old. I have hopefully many more years in front of me. I'm going to try to push my own limits and see how far I can go really with titles and with myself playing on this high level."

Early days

It hasn't always been plain sailing.

At one stage in his early days Nike Air Max TN Hombre Baratas , Djokovic seemed too frail in temperament and physique to be considered a major leaguer, failings emphasized by occasional spats over alleged gamesmanship.

At the 2005 and 2006 French Opens, the teenage Djokovic retired injured. He also pulled out of a match with Nadal at Wimbledon in 2007 and again at the Australian Open in 2009 against Roddick.

Djokovic hasn't been afraid to think outside the box in an effort to boost his career.

After going three years between his first major at the 2008 Australian Open and his second, back in Melbourne in 2011, he overhauled his daily regime.

Swearing by a gluten-free diet Nike Air Max TN Baratas , Djokovic won three of the four Slams in 2011, putting together a 41-match win streak which was ended by Federer in the French Open -semifinals.

In December 2013, he drafted in six-time Grand Slam champion Becker to work alongside longtime coach Marian Vajda who has been with him since 2006.

Despite his success, Djokovic often struggles to attract the hero worship which the evergreen Federer and the modest Nadal enjoy.

On the eve of Sunday's Wimbledon final, a BBC TV poll found 75 percent of people were desperate for Federer to win.

ADEN, Yemen, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- Eight fighters loyal to Yemen's internationally-backed government were killed and several others injured in clashes with Shiite Houthi rebels near the Red Sea coast city of Mocha on Wednesday, a military official told Xinhua.

"The clashes broke out after a group of Shiite Houthi rebels attempted to sneak into military sites held by Saudi-backed Yemeni fighters in Muzaa area near the Red Sea coast city of Mocha," the local military official said on condition of anonymity.

The pro-government forces in Mocha city retaliated by launching a large-scale armed attack with tanks and artillery against the Houthi-held areas near Mocha Nike Air Max 95 Hombre Baratas , the source said.

Medical sources confirmed to Xinhua that about eight fighters allied with the legitimate government were killed in the fighting with the Houthi rebels and several others injured.

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